Explaining the Process of Forming a Network Capability in Governmental Organizations in the Case of Iran Single Window for Trade Using Grounded Theory

• Main Authors: Ayoub Mohammadian, Maryam Khodadad Beromy
• Format: Article
• Language: fas
• Published: University of Tehran 2020-04-01
• Series: مدیریت دولتی
• Subjects: network capability; integrated service delivery; inter-organizational networks; digital government; single window
• Online Access: https://jipa.ut.ac.ir/article_74016_5ea48f3d19df85e6404134e484ae9436.pdf

Objective: In the present era, networking between government agencies has become an important factor in delivering integrated services that actually create public value and service design from the citizens' point of view. To this end, government agencies need a new capability called network capability. The purpose of this study is to model the process of forming network capabilities in government agencies active in the Iranian single window. Methods: In this qualitative study, grounded theory was used based on Strauss and Corbin method and in order to analyze the data obtained from interviews, documentation, and minutes of the single window project, a three-stage open, axial and selective coding method was used. Results: In this study, 35 concepts, 13 subcategories and 6 main categories were identified to form the network capability, which were classified into five levels of analysis including network, environment, inter-organizational, technological and organizational levels. In addition, five steps were proposed to form the network capability as well as six main hypotheses and twelve sub-hypotheses for future research. Conclusion: The proposed theoretical model shows that internal and external motivations are the causal conditions for building network capability and the dimensions of network capability in government organizations include both internal capabilities and interorganizational capabilities. Macro and micro environmental conditions have been one of the influential underlying conditions for network capability development. Also, the characteristics of network governance and network information technology architecture are among the intervening conditions affecting the development of network capability. According to the proposed theoretical model, at the maturity level of Iranian organizational mechanisms are: integration and dynamic interoperability and strategies are communication and cooperation. Finally, the implications of developing network capability for network governers, organizations, and policymakers have been proposed.